About Women Development Department

History

Function of Department

Organograms

Role of WDD

Key Commitments

Key Stakeholders / Coordination

History

A Women Development Cell was established in the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh in 19179. The objective of this cell was to address women's issues through an institutionalized system in planning and development of Sindh.

1979 : Creation of Women Development Cell in Planning & Development Department

1994 : Establishment of Women Development Department

1998 Downsizing as Social welfare, Women Development Department & Population Welfare etc.

2003 : Women Development Department

In 1995 a separate Women Development Department was formed with a broader scope than the previously established cell within the P&DD. However in 1998 the Department was merged with the Social Welfare Department at the secretariat level. In 2001 the Directorate of Women Development was abolished and a Women Development Wing was established under Directorate of Social Welfare. It was later put under the control of Population Welfare Department.

In 2003 a separate Women Development Department was re-established with a strong mandate focussed towards women's empowerment and gender equality

Functions of the Department as per Rules of Business (After 18th amendment /Devolution)

Formation of public policies and laws to meet special needs of women.

Protection and promotion of Women's rights, gender equity and equality in public sector or in particular and society in general.

Discharge of responsibilities with regard to status of women and girls.

Development projects for providing special facilities for women such at strategic initiative, innovations and special equalizing projects.

Coordination of women.s welfares programes with other concerned departments and agencies at District and local level for making conductive and safe work environment or working women and conducting research/surveys in the regard.

Improvement of working conditions of female labour both in urban and rural areas.

Promotion of cottage industry with special preference to participation of women in such industry.

Maintenance of a database of all women parliamentarians, councilors and members of civil society organizations working on gender issues.

Setting up of community/mohallah Schools and training centers for women on the basis of self help community development.

Setting up of advisory legal centers to provide legal aid to women and to review laws considered to be discriminatory against women and formulate recommendations in respect thereof.

Implementation of National Women's Welfare Policy as applicable to the Province of Sindh.
Registration and assistance of women Organizations.

Promotion and under taking of training and research on the condition and problem of women .

Service matters, except those entrusted to the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department.

Formulation of public policies and laws to meet special needs of women.

Protection and promotion of women’s rights, gender equity and equality in public sector in particular and society in general.

Development of projects that provide socio-economic uplift of women.

Promotion of cottage industry with special reference to participation of women thereby focusing on women's economic empowerment.

Establishment of training centers for women on the basis of self help community development.

Establishment of advisory legal centers to provide legal aid to women and to review laws considered to be discriminatory and to formulate recommendations in respect thereof.

Maintenance of a database of all women parliamentarians, councilors and members of civil society organizations working on gender.

Research on violence and trafficking of women with respect to assisting and ameliorating their conditions.

Development of a strong data base on professional women with an aim to facilitate their employment

The Directorate of Women Development is a field office of the Department and is headed by a Director. The main function of the Directorate is to implement policy, programs and projects of the Department in all districts of Sindh . The directoate is currently implementing the following projects for the year 2009-10 1 2 3 4 NAME THE PROJECTS (For details please seperate section on projects and schemes)

Organograms

Operational Structure of Secretariat Women Development Sindh

Operational Structure of Directorate Women Development Sindh

Staffing Positing (Secretariat)

Staffing Positing (Directorate)

Role of WDD

The devolution has opened a widow for the WDD Sindh to play a proactive role in establishing linkages with other government departments and influencing their policies
and programs for women empowerment:

To work on matters relating to formulation of public policies and laws to meet special needs of women.

To ensure that women interests and needs are adequately represented in public policy formulation by various organs and agencies of the government.

Registration and assistance of women Organizations.

To promote and undertake training and research on the conditions and problems of women.

Key Commitments

Provincial Policy for Development of Women.

WDD Sindh’s Rules of Business with devolved Rules.

Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP) Sindh.

ADP, PSDP, donor funded Projects and other activities.

International commitments:

Convention for Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)